In a wide-ranging interview on Monday (5 March), Russia’s ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov discussed Syria and eastern Ukraine, the current tensions between Gazprom and Naftogaz, as well as the Italian election.

The European Commission has proposed to extend EU internal energy market rules to cover offshore gas pipelines. But the legal services of the Council – representing EU member states – has opposed the EU executive's legislative proposal.

New tensions between Moscow and Kyiv flared yesterday (1 March) after Russia's Gazprom said it will not restart gas supplies to Ukraine and Naftogaz accused its counterpart of violating contractual agreements.

Ukrainian state-owned energy firm Naftogaz said yesterday (28 February) Russia's Gazprom would have to pay it $2.56 billion after a Stockholm court found in Naftogaz's favour in the final stage of a long-running legal battle.

At a secret session on Saturday (24 November), the Bulgarian parliament decided not to recognise the European Commission’s positions with regard to a case of abuse of dominant position in the gas market by the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and its subsidiaries Bulgargaz and Bulgartransgaz.

Copenhagen will have a hard time blocking the Gazprom-backed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline passing through its territorial waters because it has already allowed Nord Stream 1 to use the exact same route, according to an attorney.